Huffman Denounces Trump's Effort to Hand Over U.S. Coasts to Big Oil Amid Shutdown

Rep. Jared Huffman, ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, has denounced the Trump administration's plan to open nearly all federal waters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and sensitive areas off the coast of Alaska and Florida to new oil and gas leases despite the ongoing Republican government shutdown. Huffman stated that the plan is a "sneak attack" on California's coast, where he has led legislation to permanently protect the coasts from offshore drilling. The administration's plan is part of its forthcoming Draft Proposed Five-Year Plan, which would allow for 47 lease sales over five years, covering nearly every U.S. coastline.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration is advancing plans to open nearly all federal waters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and sensitive areas off the coast of Alaska and Florida to new oil and gas leases.
• Rep. Jared Huffman, ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, has denounced the plan, calling it a "sneak attack" on California's coast.
• The plan is part of the administration's forthcoming Draft Proposed Five-Year Plan, which would allow for 47 lease sales over five years, covering nearly every U.S. coastline.
• The plan would threaten the nation's coasts with oil and gas development, including areas where there is strong bipartisan opposition.
• Rep. Huffman has led legislation to permanently protect California's coasts from offshore drilling and will continue to fight against the plan.
• The administration is trying to sidestep public meetings, which may be due to the immense backlash to similar plans in 2018.
• Congressional Republicans need to explain why they have rolled out the red carpet for the plan through their votes for the Big, Ugly Bill.

Statistics:

• The Trump administration plans to propose opening previously protected waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, Eastern Gulf, and sensitive areas of the coast of Alaska to offshore drilling.
• This would be part of the administration's forthcoming Draft Proposed Five-Year Plan.
• The plan would allow for 47 lease sales over five years, covering nearly every U.S. coastline.
• The Trump administration has proposed opening 47 lease sales over five years, covering nearly every U.S. coastline, during his first term.
• The administration is trying to sidestep public meetings, which may be due to the immense backlash to similar plans in 2018.

Sources:

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https://democrats-naturalresources.house.gov/media/press-releases/huffman-denounces-trumps-effort-to-hand-over-us-coasts-to-big-oil-amid-shutdown

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